Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali "ambition" questioned as Liverpool given midfield transfer verdict

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore believes that Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali choosing to articulation Tottenham Hotspur means that their ambitions should beryllium questioned.

The Reds were linked with some Fernandes and Tonali earlier successful the summertime transportation window, arsenic Andoni Iraola aims to bolster his motor country earlier the commencement of his debut campaign.

However, Liverpool ne'er made a superior play for either Fernandes oregon Tonali, who are acceptable to nexus up nether Roberto De Zerbi adjacent play arsenic the Lilywhites hole to implicit a £185m treble swoop.

Fernandes's £85m determination to Tottenham has been confirmed, portion Tonali's £100m power from Newcastle United is successful the works; the Italian has announced that helium volition beryllium leaving St James' Park for the capital.

Speaking exclusively to Sports Mole, Collymore expressed his presumption that Liverpool were not genuine contenders for either midfielder, portion aiming a excavation astatine Tottenham and anyone opting to determination to Hotspur Way implicit Kirkby aft Spurs' 17th-placed Premier League decorativeness past season.

Stan Collymore aims excavation astatine Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali

"I'm not adjacent convinced Liverpool were that heavy into either of those deals," Collymore said. "With the top respect to Spurs, if you're choosing Tottenham implicit Liverpool astatine this stage, past I'd question your ambition.

"I really don't deliberation Liverpool are hopeless for different midfielder. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are much than bully capable to commencement the season.

"I'd besides similar to spot Florian Wirtz utilized a small deeper astatine times arsenic an attacking midfielder who tin truly dictate games. Liverpool person plentifulness of prime successful that country already, truthful I don't deliberation signing different midfielder is an implicit necessity.

"If anything, it would simply beryllium a lawsuit of giving a caller manager different subordinate due to the fact that he's new."

Which midfielders could Liverpool motion this summer?

While Collymore does not judge that Iraola is hopeless for different summation successful the centre of the park, immoderate members of the Anfield faithful whitethorn deliberation differently.

Curtis Jones is looking progressively apt to enactment aft Inter Milan failed to conscionable Liverpool's demands, but his declaration expires successful 2027, portion Alexis Mac Allister's displays successful 2025-26 near a batch to beryllium desired.

Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga is seemingly a target for the Reds, who person besides been linked with Crystal Palace lynchpin Adam Wharton and Lille starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The latter's chap Ligue 1 endowment Lamine Camara - who represents Monaco - has besides been name-checked arsenic a imaginable summation for Liverpool, but the Reds' superior absorption appears to beryllium connected a caller big-money attacker.

Stan Collymore was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of BetGoodwin.